Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) were on hand to greet delegates at the 4th European Water and Wastewater Management Conference in Leeds, with direct reminders that turning Ultra Violet (UV) sewage treatment systems off outside the bathing season dramatically increases the health risk to surfers and waveriders. The surfers, in wetsuits and carrying surfboards emblazoned with illuminous “UV” letters handed out cards reminding the delegates of their obligations to protect water users all year round.
After a successful campaign against Northumbrian Water in 2008 SAS have helped set a precedent. Where there is a presence of water users, year... Read more
Ultra Violet (UV) light is the process in sewage treatment that renders sewage effluent clean and safe. Pease Bay in Scotland and Mablethorpe and Cleethorpes on England’s East coast all have their UV light turned off outside the bathing season, thus outside the bathing season the surrounding surf spots have a massive increase in the bacteria load inputted from the sewerage systems.
This massive increase in pathogens like Hep A, Ecoli 0157H, Gastro Enteritis poses a significant health risk to waters users. It’s especially concerning when you take into account surfers are 3 times more at risk from Hep A than... Read more
Clean water campaigners Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) are relieved to announce that the Ultra Violet (UV) treatment that renders sewage clean and safe has once again been turned back on at the popular Pease Bay, in time for the Scottish Bathing Season. SAS campaigners will be opening the beach with MSP John Lamont by cutting a giant ribbon.
Scottish Water turn off the UV treatment of the sewage discharged at Cove sewage treatment works sewage outside the bathing season. Turning off the UV treatment will result in an immense increase in the bacterial load of the sewage effluent discharged into the... Read more
Clean water campaigners from Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) welcome the return of full Ultra Violet (UV) treatment for Tynemouth's sewage tomorrow. SAS will use this opportunity to warn other water companies that reducing sewage treatment can have serious impacts on the health of surfers, waveriders and water users. Any future seasonal UV turn off applications will be met with the full force of the SAS campaign team!
In 2006 Northumbrian Water applied for six sewage treatment plants to have their UV treatment turned off outside the bathing season. SAS's successful campaign highlighted the year round use of the sea adjacent to... Read more
